Finding Your Dominant or Master Eye

Shooting a rifle, shotgun, or bow is much like playing softball or basketball. Good eye and hand coordination are necessary to be successful. It is important for you, the beginning shooter, to know and use your master eye so that you can become a good shot.

Although we all have two eyes, one eye is almost always dominant (stronger). That means the dominant, or master, eye does most of the work when we are looking at objects. Many people think that if they throw a ball with their right hand, they must have a strong, or master, right eye. WRONG! Follow these steps to find your master eye.

Stand or sit facing a small object (a book, a doorknob, or a light switch) about 15 or 20 feet away from you. Face the object. Hold your head erect, and do not move it.

Keep both eyes open! Extend both of your arms in front of you. Join your hands together, and make only a small peephole through which you can see the object you are facing.

With both eyes still open, look at the object through the hole you have made with your hands.

Do not move your head. Continue to look at the object and slowly bring your hands back to your face. Keep the object in sight at all times, and keep both eyes open. Your hands will automatically return to your master eye if you keep the object in view at all times.

If the object goes out of sight, re-read these instructions and try again! Ask your course instructor to check your dominant eye if you continue to have difficulty following these directions.

Hunter’s Tip

You should shoot left-handed if you have a strong left eye and right-handed if you have a strong right eye. If you have a strong left eye but want to shoot right-handed, you must close your master eye or you will have difficulty sighting the gun and hitting the target.